Category: News

While it might seem like an odd trend to outside observers, the watch community is obsessed with nicknaming watches after famous drinks brands. Well, to be more specific, nicknaming Rolex GMT-Masters after fizzy drinks. There’s the well-established Pepsi, Coke and Root Beer with some collectors even trying to get the black and green destro from 2022 known as the Sprite. However, nicknames are all that they are. Enter the scene the new Jack Mason Strat-o-timer Dr Pepper® GMT, an actual collaboration between a watch brand and a beverage company.

Conceptually, it’s a collaboration that makes a lot of sense because both Jack Mason and Dr Pepper were founded in Texas, USA. You can almost feel the nostalgic Americana dripping from this watch, right down to the lone star logo at 12 o’clock. In fact, “Americana” is the name of one of the other Strat-o-timers in the existing collection, so it’s an apt description.

The Strat-o-timer Dr Pepper® GMT is structurally the same as its Americana sibling with a 40mm diameter case in stainless steel with a bi-directional rotating bezel. That bezel is a key feature of the watch as it displays the 24-hour scale for the titular GMT complication and is split day/night between red and maroon, the signature Dr Pepper colours. I particularly like the golden brown numerals because it makes it look incredibly retro.

Looking at the dial, at first glance there doesn’t seem to be any Dr Pepper references in sight. It’s a nice GMT display with central hours, minutes, seconds and arrow-tipped 24-hour hands. There’s also a date window at 3 o’clock. However, there is actually a hidden nod towards the iconic beverage to be found and the place to look is the hour markers.

When you turn out the lights, you’ll discover that all of the indexes are coated with lume but the markers at 10, 2 and 4 are green while the rest of them (as well as the hands and bezel markings) are blue. This is a reference to Dr Pepper’s 1930s slogan “Drink a bite to eat at 10, 2, and 4 o’clock”, which feels like a quintessential slogan from the time. There’s nothing quite like implying you should have a fizzy drinks three times a day and that it’s equivalent to having a meal. It’s classic 1930s America and the Jack Mason Strat-o-timer Dr Pepper® GMT captures that bold, brash, American optimism perfectly.

Looking through the exhibition caseback reveals that the rotor is decorated with the Dr Pepper logo. You’ll also spot peripheral engravings celebrating the collaboration and the limited edition number. The movement itself is the Japanese Miyota 9075 automatic GMT movement regulated to +/-5 seconds per day with a 42-hour power reserve. It’s a really solid calibre and offers some serious value considering the price.

The Jack Mason Strat-o-timer Dr Pepper® GMT Limited Edition is $1,089. In terms of availability, it’s limited to 230 pieces and is being launched on October 23rd in 2023. Which should make perfect sense if you happen to be a numerologist and know your Dr Pepper trivia because, of course, there are 23 flavours that make up their signature blend.

More details at Jack Mason.

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G-Shock China held a special drawing for a limited gift box set featuring a GA-B2100 watch and a mini G-Shock-branded basketball hoop set including a branded 40th Anniversary basketball. The set is a collaboration with actor Dylan Wang’s clothing line D. Desirable, which was founded in 2022. The watch is a solar and Bluetooth-equipped GA-B2100-1A […]

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The watch world was in a very, very different state 35 years ago. It was a low point, with many a maison having shut their doors throughout the quartz crisis and before the first stirrings of the modern horological renaissance. There were a few cool designs coming out, but serious watchmaking was having a hard time. It’s into this dubious market that Frederique Constant launched in 1988.

It was a bold move and one that likely raised a few eyebrows. But founders Aletta and Peter Stas weren’t your usual entrepreneurial watchmaking couple. For one, they weren’t Swiss but Dutch. For another, they lived in Hong Kong. They weren’t exactly the traditional figures behind a fledgling maison – which in all honesty, is probably how they, more than the local Swiss watchmakers, saw an opportunity.

As I said, quartz watches were everywhere and they were cheap. At the same time, the watchmakers that had survived the crisis were the ones operating in the rarefied, collector-centric end of the scale. There just wasn’t really anything in-between. Accessible watchmaking is a nice buzzword these days, but in the 80s it was a revolutionary concept. That said, it was an easier concept to grasp than build and it took the duo four years to make it a tangible, on-wrist reality with 1992’s 18th Century Collection.

It’s not hard to see the through-line from the 18th Century Collection to today. Elegant, streamlined and with a few complications (most notably a moon phase), they’re easily recognisable as Frederique Constant watches for more than the name on the dial. The same goes for their next big release, a watch that’s still a mainstay of their collection: the 1994 Heart Beat.

Defined by a dial-side opening to allow a glimpse of the balance spring underneath, the Heart Beat helped illustrate what fine watchmaking was all about. Unfortunately, Frederique Constant’s relative inexperience came into play here: they didn’t patent the technique. If you ever wondered why there are so many open-heart timepieces, now you know. Still, the brand continued to produce accessible watches, well-finished and using stock movements to keep costs down. That was until the brand hit its biggest milestone on its 10th anniversary in 2004.

Most watchmakers are more likely to design timepieces rather than build them from scratch, especially the movements. There’s a little disingenuity there, a double standard that evidently didn’t sit well with Frederique Constant. So, after a decade of producing watches, it used its birthday as the perfect opportunity to become a true watchmaker with the in-house FC-910.

The importance of the FC-910 calibre to the brand can’t be understated. It made them a complete oddity, an independent, accessible watchmaker that nonetheless had the design and manufacturing skills to bring everything in-house. At the time it was an unheard of combination and even these days it’s seriously impressive.

Of course, bringing everything in-house requires a bit more space than just case assembly, and so Frederique Constant joined the big leagues in 2006 by opening a shiny new, state-of-the-art manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates. To put that into context, they’re down the road from Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Harry Winston, not a bad group to rub bricks-and-mortar shoulders with.

As if to hammer home its unique set of watchmaking skills, back in 2008 Frederique Constant also produced one of the world’s most accessible Swiss tourbillons in the FC-980 calibre, which also happened to be the world’s first calibre of its type with a silicon escapement. It was just the start of course, and over the last 15-odd years, Frederique Constant has produced around 30 different in-house movements.

While the brand’s independence is no longer a thing – they’re now part of Citizen Group, sitting alongside a superb roster of like-minded brands – that emphasis on affordable Swiss watchmaking, backed by in-house mechanics, is still very much defining Frederique Constant’s approach. Indeed, to celebrate its 35th anniversary, it caught lightning in a bottle and released a gorgeous new version of its tourbillon: the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture.

An incredibly handsome, distinctly classical watch, the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture is in many ways the culmination of three and a half decades of experience. A delicately sized dress watch with an open heart (which as we’ve already spoken about, is a Frederique Constant signature), manufacture movement and the kind of classical good looks you’d expect from a Swiss maison with a far longer heritage, we adored it when we reviewed it back in June (which you can read here). Best of all though, it’s accessible. Not impulse-buy, genuinely inexpensive accessible (after all, that’s what Citizen do), but for £12,750, this level of watchmaking is a staggering rarity.

Thirty-five years is a blink of an eye compared to some watch manufactures – including those sharing the air of Plan-les-Ouates – but for Frederique Constant it’s been long enough to build a brand, build a movement, build a manufacture and build its own unique approach to Swiss watchmaking. God only knows what it can do by the grand old age of 70.

More details at Frederique Constant.

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Look, we understand that in lots of cases the perfect strap for your watch will often be something thematically appropriate and that matches the style of the piece. However, sometimes you just want to make a statement. That’s why we’ve taken a very classic pilot’s watch, the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date 473, and paired it with some of the most wild, exotic and interesting watch straps from French Maison Jean Rousseau. It’s all about colour, texture and making a splash.

Salmon, £19

When we think of leather, marine leathers are probably not the first thing our minds go to. However, with an increasing focus on sustainable supply chains in the leather industry, marine leathers are becoming more popular. This salmon leather strap is produced from waste material produced by the food industry.

In mustard yellow it has a gorgeous gradient on each of the scales from a dark brown to yellow that makes the pattern stand out dramatically. I like the combination of the scale pattern and the blue dial of the 473, it gives the piece an unexpected aquatic vibe like your local aquarium.

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Sturgeon, £300

Another exotic marine leather is sturgeon. This one is a more traditional pairing with the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date 473 because they’re similar colours. The main base of the strap is dark blue while the characteristic scutes (skin imperfections that are common in sturgeon) are a lighter shade of blue not dissimilar to dial. It’s a pretty robust, durable leather that gains flexibility over time. It’s certainly one of the most unusual leathers in Jean Rousseau’s repertoire and for exactly that reason will make your watch stand out from the crowd

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Shark, £19

Next up is the most famous type of exotic marine leather, shark. Sharks very famously have rough, almost sandpaper like skin and that translates to a highly textured leather with many ridges and bumps. Thankfully during the processing it loses its abrasive, sharp quality to become comfortable to wear.

Here it’s been coloured green although in Jean Rousseau’s regular collections they currently only list it in black. That’s because with their bespoke service you can create custom straps from the full range of Jean Rousseau materials and colours

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Seaqual Denim, £19

Ok, ok, ok, this one isn’t technically an exotic strap in the same way we typically think of exotic leathers. It’s not even leather. However, it has a similar origins to the marine leather straps because it’s made from recycled plastic from the world’s oceans.

Compared with the leathers, it’s more tactile and utilitarian, designed to withstand the bumps and scrapes of life. Paired with the Oris, it highlights the fact that a pilot’s watch is a sub-genre of tool watch – which is to say, a watch designed for a specific purpose and more often than not designed for daily wear. It’s available in green or light brown

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MonacoCarAuctions

MonacoCarAuctions is a new premier car auction brand offering exquisite service on the sale of its impressive range of prestige cars. Its first auction took place this summer featuring more than 40 legendary and iconic Ferraris including a Ferrari Enzo directly from Fernando Alonso’s private collection. MonacoCarAuctions believes in ensuring a stress-free auction on all sides, which is why it provides total support from start to finish for both buyers and sellers including photography, logistics and more.

More details at MonacoCarAuctions.

Twisted Automotive Suzuki Jimny, From £49,500

Twisted Automotive is one of the coolest 4×4 customisation brands around, modifying iconic vehicles like the Land Rover Defender as well as alternative vehicles like the Suzuki Jimny. The Jimny is a pretty easy car to make fun of, not least for its name, but Twisted Automotive has managed to turn it into a high performance motor ready for adventure. Improved turbo, suspension, anti-roll bar, tyres, trim and soundproofing are all core elements of a Twisted Jimny.

Available at Twisted Automotive.

Kimera Automobili EVO37

Kimera Automobili takes the art of classic and sports car restoration seriously, however it has transitioned that knowledge into creating its own vehicle, the EVO37. It’s inspired by the Lancia Rally 037 bringing the styling of the 80s icon into the 21st century. It’s powered by a 2-litre four-cylinder in-line engine with double super charger. It’s as much a passion project as it is a sports car, with every car sold named in dedication to its new owner.

Available at Kimera Automobili.

Pullman Editions

Pullman Editions’ vintage style posters recapture the glamour and suspense of a bygone era, and in no poster is that more evident than this ode to the Monaco Grand Prix. Racers tearing past the legendary Hotel Monte Carlo with a view of the Côte d’Azur in the background, it’s part travel inspiration and part nostalgic flashback to the early days of motor racing. Either way it’s the perfect gift for any classic petrolhead.

Available at Pullman Editions.

The Little Car Company Ferrari Testa Rossa J

If you haven’t come across The Little Car Company, you’re missing out. They create the most beautiful, miniaturised versions of classic cars you have ever seen. This is the Ferrari Testa Rossa J, a 75% reproduction of the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa capable of a brisk 80 kph (approx. 50 mph). It’s an officially licenced Ferrari product, which means it was built using the original Ferrari plans and drawings from the highest quality materials and parts.

More details at The Little Car.

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In a world where algorithms are increasingly in control of the content we consume it’s very easy to find yourself stuck in a niche with no way to easily discover new things. It affects the videos we watch, the films we see and even the music we listen to. As part of their commitment to creating the best quality music streaming platform, Qobuz created Qobuz Club, an online social hub for its listeners to share and discover new music.

Think of it like a record shop from (sadly) bygone times – a place where music enthusiasts would gather to discuss the latest sounds, their favourite artists and give advice on creating the best hi-fi systems. Qobuz Club offers this same sense of community in a digital space with music experts on hand to advise and assist you on your audio journey.

It’s a great place to discuss and debate music with likeminded individuals – akin to the many great wristwatch forums for watch enthusiasts or even our very own comments section. Additionally, it also grants you access to Qobuz News, Music Clubs, Hi-Fi Spaces, and a Discussion Forum where members can talk directly with the Qobuz teams. There’s also the “collector’s corner” for vinyl lovers, able to share and talk about their prized records or even facilitate trades to procure that one record you’ve always been searching for.

Joining Qobuz Club is incredibly easy, all you need to do is sign up for a free Qobuz account or be an existing member. You can then join the discussion online via the Qobuz Community website or the app. If you enjoy the community, you could even consider their main subscription to gain access to an extensive library of high quality music recordings with superb sound quality and definition.

Find out more about Qobuz Club and join the community at community.qobuz.com.

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Fears as a watch brand has a history reaching back for over 170 years. However, despite the weight of history that comes with such a heritage, they aren’t afraid to try new things. That’s what leads us to today’s new watch launch, the Fears Brunswick ‘Aurora’ and Brunswick 40 Copper Salmon. Both are new additions to the Brunswick 40 regular collections featuring improved cases and fresh dials.

When I say that Fears are trying new things, I’m mainly talking about the dial of the Brunswick ‘Aurora’. It’s the first time that Fears have ever used mother-of-pearl in their dials and the result is pretty spectacular. There are two sections of mother-of-pearl cut to different heights and both given a light blue colour treatment that emphasises the iridescent quality of the material. It’s designed to look like the Aurora Borealis. Shimmering lights hanging in the dark sky over northern England and Scotland.

I really like this new, slightly more daring direction Fears have been taking recently, pushing the envelope on what they can do with their dials. The Fears Brunswick 40 Pink was super unexpected but I love the combination of colours they used and it’s a similar story with the ‘Aurora’. The addition of new textures revitalises the collection and the design.

At the same time, Fears hasn’t forgotten what made them popular to begin with. So, alongside the fresh and exciting ‘Aurora’ we have the reserved and elegant Brunswick 40 Copper Salmon. In short, this is a 40mm version of the previous Brunswick 38 Salmon, a watch that really catapulted Fears into popularity among collectors. The main difference is that it has the two layered dial sans small seconds subdial that’s more typical of Fears’ larger models and they’ve taken the opportunity to try some different finishes. The outer ring features vertical brushing while the central disc is sandblasted. On top of that, it features black gold hands and numerals.

I mentioned in the introduction that the case has been improved as well and indeed it now has an increased water resistance rating of 150m. This has been made possible by adding a screw-down crown which creates a tight seal around one of the areas which is typically a weakness when it comes to water resistance. Beyond that, it’s the Brunswick case we’ve come to know with its classic cushion shape. Both watches are presented in steel on a choice of steel five link bracelet or a brand-new buffalo leather strap.

The movement continues to be the Top-Grade ETA 2824-2 automatic with 40-hour power reserve. It’s a time only piece with central hours, minutes and seconds. All that remains is the price and unsurprisingly the mother-of-pearl dial on the ‘Aurora’ makes it slightly more expensive at £4,050 on bracelet or £3,850 on strap. The Brunswick 40 Copper Salmon then shares a price with the other 40mm options in the current range at £3,750 on bracelet and £3,550 on the new strap. Pragmatically I think the Copper Salmon will be the more popular of the two watches because Fears has a proven track record with salmon watches although I personally enjoy the more vibrant ‘Aurora’.

More details at Fears.

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To celebrate its 40th Anniversary, G-Shock is releasing the MRG-B2000SG-1A to its flagship MR-G line. The watch is limited to 700 units worldwide and is modeled after the Shougeki-Maru: Gai kabuto helmet, which was specially created for MR-G. The titanium case undergoes a recrystallization process that gives it a unique texture and rugged look, and […]

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Leaked images of the upcoming G-Shock GPR-H1000 have made their way online. The GPR-H1000 is presumably a Rangeman, as the naming convention follows the discontinued Rangeman GPR-B1000 from 2018. Stylistically, the GPR-H1000 looks similar to the Mudman GW-9500 but with a more asymmetrical design and equipped with an MIP LCD display. Although it has a […]

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History is littered with watches that have been built to survive the most extreme of environments; we have a whole article on just that subject elsewhere in these pages. Most of them though date back to the golden age of exploration, the era of Sir Edmund Hillary and grand arctic crossings. The Charlie Paris Concordia GMT on the other hand, is a lot more modern.

Back in 2018 Matthieu Tordeur decided to cross Antarctica. But where Hillary did so with a full team and plenty of equipment, Tordeur opted to do it completely solo on skis, the youngest explorer ever to achieve the feat – and the first Frenchman. An expedition like that needs the right equipment, and timekeeper-wise that equipment was the original Charlie Paris Concordia.

The watch was designed with sub-zero temperatures in mind and, given the amount of snow, a good level of waterproofness. The result is a solid tool watch with a surprising level of elegance to it, aesthetically like a Fifty Fathoms compared to a Submariner. And in the latest version, the accessible French watchmaker has added a useful (if conversely less utilitarian) twist in the Concordia GMT.

Honestly, the Concordia suits a GMT nicely. While it has a tool watch case in 40mm of stainless steel, its slim bezel means there’s plenty of room to try new things, and the relatively sparse dial means that a bit of extra colour here and there wouldn’t go amiss – especially if that colour is a gorgeous chocolate hue.

Seriously, brown dials are incredibly underrated. The Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix Sepia is one of my dream watches, and while the Concordia isn’t in the same league (it’s over £20,000 less), the silky brown still has that kind of vintage feel to it. It’s a gradient dial, but only lightly so. It doesn’t go from light to dark as much as very dark to black, tying more into that vibe of time-worn fade.

That’s doubly true when you take into account the 24-hour day-night indicator around the periphery of the dial, which is half dial-matched brown, half pale beige, like it’s split between espresso and latte. The 24-hour indicator is a OCD-satisfying reflection of the bezel, down to the numerals, read using the black-bordered white arrow hand.

One of the more unusual touches on the Concordia is the crown. As it’s meant to be used in cold weather, it has to be operable in gloves (especially given how cold steel would get). That means you need an oversized crown. Rather than the usual fluted version you often see on pilot watches, Charlie Paris instead opted for a big, round, barrel-shaped version with plenty of grip. It’s incredibly tactile to use.

Should you use that crown you’ll find out that this is an office GMT rather than a ‘true’ GMT. That means you can quickly jump the GMT hand around the dial rather than the local hand. It’s a better complication for if you’re not actually travelling but need to keep track of your next international call. There’s a bit more prestige behind a ‘true’ GMT but honestly, I find this version more useful.

It’s powered by a Soprod C125 movement, a maker we’re seeing more and more of as ETA movements become harder to get hold of. It’s not just a second best though. Soprod have been making Swiss movements since the 60s and offer some seriously solid calibres – of which this is one. For the accuracy fanatics among you, it runs at 04/+6 seconds a day, which is decent at this price point, backed by a 40-hour power reserve.

On the wrist, the Concordia GMT is downright lovely. The proportions are just right, from the 40mm diameter to the 12.5mm thickness, with enough heft to suit what is ostensibly a tool watch but without feeling chunky. It’s versatile enough to wear with anything too, with that pared-back dial suiting the term ‘smart-casual’ more than most watches.

If I have one negative, it’s that the bezel is a bit slim to use easily. It’s just that touch too awkward to get a grip on. That stops it slipping accidentally if you did want to test out its impressive 300m water resistance, which is vital if you find yourself using it to keep track of how long you’ve been under. But for someone like me that just loves fiddling with a rotating bezel, it’s not the best.

The fact that that’s my only gripe about the Concordia GMT though speaks volumes. It’s well-built, well-designed and, underpinning it all, well-priced. It’s currently on pre-order for €1,232 on a strap or €1,284 on a bracelet, so just over £1,068/£1,113 in good, British money. But even at full retail, it’s a lot of watch for the money. And hey, it’s also good to know that if I ever pack up writing and decide to strike out solo across the icy wastes of the Arctic, I can rely on the Concordia to get me there. Even if I can’t rely on myself.

More details at Charlie Paris.

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